Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson takes full‑time role at Palantir UK

Palantir Technologies, the U.S. data‑analytics firm that has faced scrutiny over its public‑sector contracts, announced the appointment of Labour peer Tom Watson as a full‑time executive. Watson, a former deputy leader of the Labour Party and a close colleague of former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, will work alongside Palantir’s UK and Europe chief executive Louis Mosley as the company navigates mounting political pressure. The move comes as Burnham’s administration is being urged to terminate a £330 million contract that supplies Palantir’s software to the National Health Service, while the firm is simultaneously contesting a legal challenge brought by London mayor Sadiq Khan over a £50 million agreement to provide AI tools for Metropolitan Police investigations.

Palantir, which reports an annual UK turnover of £427 million, is seeking to expand its footprint in the public sector despite the controversies surrounding its existing deals. The hiring of Watson is intended to bolster the firm’s engagement with government stakeholders and to address concerns raised by both the Greater Manchester and London authorities. As the company continues to defend its current contracts and pursue new opportunities, its relationship with UK public institutions remains a focal point of political and legal scrutiny.